Messiah (George Frideric Handel) Flashcards

1
Q

Date

A

1742

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2
Q

Circumstances of performance

A

a benefit concert in Dublin, composed the previous summer in only 24 days

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3
Q

Genre

A

oratorio

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4
Q

Time signature (at least for everything we look at)

A

C

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5
Q

structure

A

(53 mvmts in total) Part 1: prophecy of coming of Christ, Part 2: Christ’s suffering, death, and spread of his doctrine, Part 3: the redemption of the world through faith

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6
Q

performing forces

A

S,A,T,B soloists with SATB chorus and string orchestra + continuo + oboes, bassoons, trumpets, and timpani

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7
Q

Overture: title

A

Sinfony

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8
Q

Overture: genre

A

French overture

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9
Q

Overture: Form

A

A (repeated) B

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10
Q

Overture: key

A

E minor

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11
Q

Overture: Time signature

A

C

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12
Q

Overture: A: Tempo

A

Grave

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13
Q

Overture: A: Texture

A

homophonic

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14
Q

Overture: A: predominant rhythm

A

dotted figure (some interpret: double dotting)

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15
Q

Overture: B: Texture

A

polyphonic (fugal), 3 voices

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16
Q

Overture: B: subject 1st introduced by

A

1st violins and oboes

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17
Q

Overture: B: answer

A

tonal

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18
Q

Overture: A: affection

A

unknowing, fear, and a sense of nobility

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19
Q

Overture: B: affection

A

urgent, yet more hopeful than section A. at times it feels almost didactic

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20
Q

There were shepherds: 1: text

A

There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night

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21
Q

There were shepherds: 1: type

A

recitativo secco

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22
Q

There were shepherds: 1: key

A

C major

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23
Q

There were shepherds: 1: tempo

A

not indicated

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24
Q

There were shepherds: 2: text

A

And lo! The angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid

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25
Q

There were shepherds: 2: type

A

recitativo accompagnato

26
Q

There were shepherds: 2: key

A

F major

27
Q

There were shepherds: 2: tempo

A

Andante

28
Q

There were shepherds: 2: word painting

A

the ascending 4-note pattern in the accompaniment suggests the flapping of angels’ wings

29
Q

There were shepherds: 3: text

A

And the angel said unto them ‘Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord’.

30
Q

There were shepherds: 3: type

A

recitativo secco

31
Q

There were shepherds: 3: key

A

begins in D major

32
Q

There were shepherds: 3: tempo

A

not indicated

33
Q

There were shepherds: 4: text

A

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heav’nly host, praising God, and saying”

34
Q

There were shepherds: 4: type

A

recitativo accompagnato

35
Q

There were shepherds: 4: key

A

begins in D major

36
Q

There were shepherds: 4: tempo

A

not indicated

37
Q

There were shepherds: 4: word painting

A

more flapping of angels wings suggested in the accompaniment

38
Q

Glory to God: type

A

chorus

39
Q

Glory to God: key

A

D major

40
Q

Glory to God: tempo

A

Allegro

41
Q

Glory to God: text

A

Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men

42
Q

Glory to God: texture

A

voices: homorhythmic, alternating with polyphonic sections “and peace on earth”

43
Q

Glory to God: word painting

A

“and peace on earth”: terraced dynamics (f to p), and all voices + accompaniment cease rapid passages and slow down

44
Q

Rejoice Greatly: type

A

soprano aria

45
Q

Rejoice Greatly: key

A

B flat major

46
Q

Rejoice Greatly: tempo

A

allegro

47
Q

Rejoice Greatly: form

A

ABA1

48
Q

Rejoice Greatly: A: text

A

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion. rejoice greatly, shout, o daughter of Jerusalem. Behold thy king cometh unto thee

49
Q

Rejoice Greatly: A: word painting

A

the melisma on the word rejoice, inspiring an exuberant mood, and imitating sounds of rejoicing. Also “shout” in “shout o daughter of Jerusalem” is significantly higher in pitch, and sounds like a real shout

50
Q

Rejoice Greatly: B: key

A

G minor

51
Q

Rejoice Greatly: B: text

A

“He is the righteous Savior, and he shall speak peace unto the heathen

52
Q

Rejoice Greatly: B: contrast

A

minor key, much slower, and no rejoicing melismas are present :)

53
Q

Hallelujah: type

A

chorus

54
Q

Hallelujah: key

A

D major

55
Q

Hallelujah: tempo

A

Allegro

56
Q

Hallelujah: text

A

Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipoteth reigneth. The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of lords, Hallelujah!

57
Q

Hallelujah: texture

A

homorhythmic texture on opening “Hallelujah”, and imitative polyphony on “and He shall reign for ever and ever”

58
Q

Hallelujah: contrast

A

“the kingdom of this world” is significantly softer than the lines immediately preceding and following it. In addition, the homorhythmic lines are significantly more forceful than the rest of the piece.

59
Q

Hallelujah: climax

A

At section G, the piece begins to transition from the polyphonic texture of the middle sections into a homorhythmic one. When homorhythmic texture is achieved, the entire chorus climaxes in a drawn out “Hallelujah”, which then ends the piece.

60
Q

Review and Reflection: Rejoice Greatly

A

ternary (ABA), and highly embellished, ornamental lines

61
Q

Review and Reflection: Shepherds

A

Basso continuo (the recitativo secco parts)